MANCHESTER — A Southside Middle School student ended up wheeling and dealing with Mayor Ted Gatsas on Wednesday, the first day of school. It just wasn't the deal he had initially requested.

While waiting for an eighth-grade assembly to begin, Abdelrahman Elkuils asked Gatsas for a $1,000 loan.Gatsas had the student get to his feet and then the self-made millionaire peppered the Sudanese teenager with questions: How would he repay the loan? Is he on the honor roll?He didn't get the loan, but he has a deal.

If he makes the honor roll and contacts the mayor, Gatsas promised a $20 gift certificate to Cremeland. "It went kind of good," Elkuils said about his conversation with the mayor. "I need to go on the honor roll."

Of course Cremeland, the iconic Valley Street drive-up restaurant, will be closed for the season by the time the semester is over, Gatsas said. So Elkuils might as well stay on the honor roll all year, Gatsas said.

Elkuils described his grades as "above C."

"I think he's awesome," Elkuils said of Gatsas. "He really helps a lot of students, and he respects Southside."mhayward@unionleader.com